Celebrity POP – Social Buzz – Upbeat Vibe

Month: September 2013

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It seems the word stuntman has taken on new meaning. Back in the day it was just amazing to see Evil Knievel do his motorcycle jumps across cars and canyons. It was jaw-dropping to see others do flips, spins and ride on one wheel. But Jeb Corliss as the ‘wingsuit man’ must be the daredevil of our day.

As a professional parachutist he’s done jumps from the Eiffel Tower, the Space Needle in Seattle and the sacred statue in Rio De Janeiro. Recently, he performed his death-defying ‘flying dagger’ jump from a helicopter 6000 feet above. He glided at 75-mph between two Chinese mountain peaks 25 feet apart.

In his words “It was the single gnarliest (craziest) thing I’ve ever done in my life, without a doubt.” The jump was almost cancelled due to bad weather. By the afternoon there was a break in the fog and a lull in the winds. Corliss says he did the stunt to show how with courage others can pursue their dreams.

Well, Operation J.U.M.P. says don’t believe the hype! This level of courage is not required for everybody’s dream. It’s not about being a daredevil as much as it’s about being a dare-dreamer. Dreams come with equal expectations but different sacrifice. In the end it comes down to taking a leap of faith.

Corliss will go on to do other mind-blowing stunts. These acts of ‘crazy’ are not to be tried at home. In the meantime, the rest of us can continue with ‘normal’ dreams that still require getting past some fears. It helps to rise about the ‘fray of the day’ in life’s situations to get a better view of the big picture.

Footnote: The level of courage required for pursuing dreams is not the same for everybody because dreams come with equal expectations but different sacrifice.

Over the past year there’s been a repeat of violent events that have rocked the soul. From the urban blocks of Chicago to the quiet streets of Newtown many have had to cry and ask why. The same question was asked after the Navy Yard shooting. Recently, the President made an emotional plea for change.

The FBI provided updates on the shooter’s state of mind. It seems he was affected by paranoia and delusion. They say he acted alone but it’s still unclear whether his actions were triggered by other factors. Getting to the root of such senselessness is a hard nut to crack. But the President says it’s gotta happen.

He reminded the families that he’s been to five such memorial services in the recent past. He appealed to the collective pain to forge a transformation in our nation which has 10 times as many gun-related tragedies than other developed countries. Just thinking about such a stat can lead to an air of despair.

In a sense that could be the dilemma we face as a community. How does despair get flushed-out the air? The FBI and HVAC guys aren’t sure. Maybe some of the gun violence ties to a sense of feeling boxed-in. Some see no way out of urban distress while others wrestle with deep bouts of mental duress.

The response we take to stemming the tide should force us to zoom in on the sources and effects of despair. This is not necessarily a trivial thing. It’s hard to know what’s going on inside someone’s head. But, President Obama knows it might be made easier by a greater sense of shared purpose as a nation.

Footnote: One way of promoting ‘anti-violence’ is by being ‘pro-purpose’ so others won’t describe you as being ‘anti Second Amendment.’

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Growmance’Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (Old-School Flava)

NBCs Today Show and ABCs Good Morning America have been in a ratings dual for the #1 spot. Recently, the Today Show added a new co-host and studio makeover. Ann Curry still does some reporting even after losing her anchor spot. But she’s pulled off a coup that blazes her media profile.

She landed the first interview by a Western Media outlet with the new Iranian President. Curry is seen wearing traditional Iranian attire in a 1-on-1 interview setting. We haven’t heard much from Curry since her own job shake-up. But it’s a good example of what to do when one’s career track hits the wall.

Curry showed lots of class, even though she would have loved for others to kiss her…(well enough said). In some circles it’s felt that Americans live to work. It’s a matter of “bills bills every day. Not much time after work for play.” Clearly, Curry wasn’t as worried about leaning-in as she was about learning-up.

She found a way to rise to the occasion. Whether it’s a job loss, career slide or broken business deal hitting the wall isn’t the end of the line. Just look at what happens when a Running Back is trying to gain short yardage but hits the wall. He keeps his legs moving just enough for a final surge of the wall.

After about a year in the big chair Curry was replaced. The word online was things didn’t go so well with the show’s rating and maybe some peer hating. Curry moved on in a new role. She’s still making a name for herself at home and the world stage. Just goes to show that a loss can be the setup for a bigger win.

The Year of ‘Growmance’Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (New-School Flava)

Left corner Today Show on NBC. Right corner Good Morning America on ABC. Battling for the #1 spot. By keeping the ratings hot. Today added new co-host and studio makeover. But GMA not seen as a pushover. Ann Curry still stops by for reports on file. She’s pulled off a coup that blazes her style.

Landing the first Western Media talk as if by fate. Beating other outlets straight out the gate. New Iranian President questioned wire-to-wire. By Curry wearing traditional Iranian attire. Hasn’t said much since her own job shift. Leaving others to gossip about a rift. Good example when career track gets hit by a tiff.

Curry showed lots of class. Would’ve preferred others kissed her…(‘nuff said). Americans live to work, is that true? That’s from the polls so what about you? For so many a matter of “bills bills every day. Not much time after work for play.” Curry not worried about leaning-in. More like learning-up helps her win.

Found a way to rise to the occasion. While still working at the same station. Whether job loss, career slide or broken biz deal. Curry never stopped keeping it real. Hitting the wall not end of the line. After a while things turn out fine. Like a Running Back working for short yardage. Keep legs moving pass the blockage.

Curry did her thing in the big chair. Then lost the spot after a year. Word on the street was lower rating. And maybe some peer-to-peer hating. Curry moved on in her new role. Working on achieving her next goal. Still making a name at home and world stage. Just shows a loss can lead to turning a bigger page.

Tip: Upping your game is making a name for yourself even if your name gets muddled in drama or gossip.

Last week saw the second anniversary of Occupy Wall Street protests. A spattering of about 100 people came to rally their cause. Many concerns of unemployment and income inequality that drove the demonstrations remain. So, has Occupy Wall Street (OWS) gone bust like the past market crash?

The word on the street is that they’ve gone underground. They resurfaced a year ago after Hurricane Sandy. Many groups provided disaster relief and logistic support. But others think it has just about fizzled. The effort seems to have lost its steam because the leaders couldn’t agree on the overriding purpose.

This can apply to any other movement that touts social change. People will come and go but the larger purpose prevails. The main purpose of Operation J.U.M.P. is to help relieve joblessness or job distress and bring unsung dreams back from the dead. Of-course, there’re a few economic justice items thrown in.

Think of Operation J.U.M.P. like raising the sunken ship Costa Concordia. A team of specialty engineers put together a plan to upright the ship. This was a very complex operation that involved pulleys, cables and steel structures. Now that it’s been ‘righted’ it will take another year before the site returns to normal.

OWS as a tactic might have served its main purpose. It elevated issues of economic injustice needing public attention. Operation J.U.M.P. as a grassroots initiative partners with other ‘social-preneurs’ across various market sectors to help upright the job market back to normal and keep raising new-found dreams.

Footnote: The purpose of Operation J.U.M.P. as a grassroots initiative is to respond to the 4 million long-term jobless, 8 million of under-employment restless and the untold millions with fears that lead to unsung dreams in the job-market ocean.

There is a debate across the country about the role of government in enterprise. This is not new and dates back many decades. Some would like to see less intrusion while those on the side of civil rights would like to see less exclusion. But it seems the topic of gun violence doesn’t hit home until it hits home.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently made a policy revision by requesting customers leave their guns at home when visiting stores. This change was met with mixed reviews. One argument says it’s not enforceable. Another argument says the likelihood that some customers will protest is probable.

To understand this highly charged debate takes us back to the 2nd Amendment. The right to bear arms is seen as a constitutional certainty. Some advocates say they should be allowed to buy, sell and even carry as they choose. Maybe bearing arms for self-preservation is more a badge of honor than of entitlement.

Think back to the mortgage crisis and you know where that got us. It was believed that every citizen should have the opportunity to own a home (a good thing). So mortgage companies went crazy approving loans that were sub-prime. Home ownership went from being a badge of honor to a badge of entitlement.

Since the mortgage crisis hit home for our economy we’ve seen major changes. There are new guidelines for loan qualification. Well, if this is true for home loans why not for other areas of social distress. Maybe CEO Schultz hopes to expand the conversation so society gets a handle on violence in the community.

Footnote: When a privilege goes from being a badge of honor to being a badge of entitlement things seem to get out of control.

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Growmance’Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (Old-School Flava)

Arsenio Hall gets a second shot! He’s been off the scenes for nearly 20 years. His latenight show back then was popular with young folks and Presidential hopefuls. He even had former Prez Bill Clinton on to perform a sax number. Is this generation ready for Hall to bring his brand of showtime back to latenight?

These TV spots are not easy to come by. The veterans Letterrman, Leno and Stewart have been doing their thing for a while. Newcomers like Conan, Kimmel and Fallon stepped up their game. So why would Hall want to do it again? Maybe because it’s in his blood and he’s now driven by a greater purpose.

He’s been away being a Dad and now has a different perspective. It took him five years to convince execs (and himself) he had the right stuff for a comeback. This is not unlike those who’ve had a pit-stop on their career-track. So the timing of his comeback could be a set-up for being at the top of his game.

An initial turning point in Hall’s reset was Celebrity Apprentice. It helped put him back on the map and maybe even introduced him to a new audience. The win might also have helped him retool his business savvy. To make another go at it with all the competition takes building a niche to have staying-power.

Hall describes his show as a ‘party with friends.’ His guest list has been a mix of young talent and deep-money. He’s even called on a handful of friends who appeared on his original show. It’s gonna take a few weeks for things to come together. By then let’s hope it feels like a ‘party with a purpose.’

The Year of ‘Growmance’Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (New-School Flava)

Arsenio Hall gets another look. Going back to his latenight playbook. Off the scenes for near 20 years. Stepping past his inner fears. Show back then a must-see for young folks. With lots of celebs and pop-culture jokes. From presidential hopefuls like Prez Bubba. Is gen-X ready for another sax number?

Latenight spots hard to come by. Letterman, Leno and Stewart’s stand-up on the fly. Newbies like Conan, Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. Stepped up their game in laughs per gallon. So Hall really wants to do it again? Some think he can’t be serious or sane. Maybe it’s a greater purpose flowing like blood in his vein.

Been away being hands-on Dad. Son moving closer to being a grad. Now looks at things with a different eye. Getting past wanting to cry. Took him five years to convince execs. Maybe even some time sipping a few Becks. Not unlike those who hit a career pit-stop. The comeback could take his game to the top.

Initial return on Celebrity Apprentice reset. No regrets having to beset. Helped put him back on the showbiz map. To a new audience that was on tap. Winning did help his business cred. Showing market savvy isn’t dead. To make waves with the competition. Building a niche with staying-power precision.

Sees show as a ‘party with friends.’ Lots of Hollywood pals to no ends. A mix of young talent and deep-money. And a few skits that bring out the funny. Even calling on a few old-time guests. From original cast of faves & bests. Gonna take a minute to come together. Like a ‘party with a purpose’ in any weather.

Tip: Upping your game is making a comeback by using your passion as a niche with market-savvy precision.

Talkback: What will Aresenio have to do to hang with the ‘big boys’ or even separate from the pack?

Every so often a major event happens across the country. Recently it’s disasters like the floods in Colorado or fire at the Jersey Shore. Five years ago the fall of Lehman Brothers brought near depression. These were breaking news stories. So how should we make the case for a full-court press on jobs?

The topic is on our minds once a month when the Jobs Report is released. Then after a day or two it slips off the radar. Many experts explain the up or down changes in the jobless rate. There is evidence of those who’re discouraged and given up. But society can be so focused on the have’s we forget the have not’s.

Imagine riding to work and being stuck in traffic? There’s frustration and anxiety about getting there on time. The roadway alert says disabled car ahead. It clears briefly, then another disabled car. The ‘stop & go’ persists because 13 of every 100 cars are disabled on that stretch. That would be like car-maggedon!

Well, that’s happening in our economy. The long-term jobless are like stalled cars in the economy. We see a slight speed-up, closely followed by a slowdown. People are ‘rubbernecking,’ looking for any opportunity happening. After a while many become discouraged and give-up due to market congestion.

Highway patrol responds to stalled vehicles. A service truck arrives to give a ‘jump’ or whatever else is needed. So it is when public officials do the same in response to the long-term jobless. If disabled vehicles are bad for traffic flow then a long-term jobless state is bad for the economy and average Joe.

Footnote: Operation J.U.M.P. is like the jumper cable connecting a charged power source to a drained power resource and bringing unsung dreams back to life.

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Short Bio – Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham

Author/Speaker, Blogger, Social Commentator -
He's the author of two books and an avid blogger who believes life is meant to be lived with purpose!
www.JoetoCEO.com

Doc’s Blog Tip

“The ‘stairs challenge’ on social media might be about how to dance up the stairs as something you do for the culture. But in the workplace, it’s about how to reach new heights in skills and thrills as something you do for the glory.”